Matriarch of Liberty Twp.’s Niederman Farm had ‘wonderful, caring heart’

Janet and Bob Niederman present the family farm’s free Walk Thru the Bible Christmas Display, an attraction that drew more than 10,000 guests annually, in the 2015 installment of the event. GINNY MCCABE

Janet and Bob Niederman present the family farm’s free Walk Thru the Bible Christmas Display, an attraction that drew more than 10,000 guests annually, in the 2015 installment of the event. GINNY MCCABE

Janet Niederman, the matriarch of the family behind Niederman Family Farm, is being remembered for her generosity that she passed down to her children.

“You never replace someone with a heart like Janet’s,” said Christine Matacic, a Liberty Twp. trustee. “And you know how the saying goes, ‘And it doesn’t fall far from the tree.’”

Niederman died Friday at home. She was 84.

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The Niederman Christmas Walk, which started on the Niederman Family Farm on Lesourdsville-West Chester Road in Liberty Twp. in 2001, was not open late last year “due to family health issues,” the family recently posted on its Facebook page.

“It has been our privilege to create 17 years of wonderful memories for countless families,” the post read. “This season we will be spending precious time making memories with our own family.”

One of Niederman’s 16 grandchildren, Brian Garver, who serves as farm manager, said the family spent “some sweet times” together during the holidays.

“It was a no-regrets decision,” he said of closing the Christmas Walk.

He said his grandmother always taught him to respect others and appreciate customers.

Matacic said Niederman possessed a “wonderful, caring heart and a positive attitude.” She always put her family first, loved helping others and had a strong faith, Matacic said.

When the trustees were considering naming streets in the Liberty Center after prominent residents, the Niederman name rose to the top of the list. One street is named Niederman Way. The trustees were impressed because the Niederman Farm, which opened in 1948, had expanded by offering paintball, farm tours, corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides and boat storage.

The Niederman Family has been a working farm for four generations. Dairy cows, chickens, pigs, beef animals, lambs and goats all have been raised, at different times, around the farm. Corn, soybeans, wheat and hay are also staples for the family farm.

“They were always proud to be from Liberty Township and they wanted to move the community forward,” Matacic said.

Niederman is survived by her husband of 64 years, Robert “Bob” Niederman; and daughters Debbie (Doug) Pierson, Cindy (Tim) Sorrell and Nancy (Greg) Garver; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Center Pointe Christian Church, 5962 Hamilton-Mason Rd., Liberty Twp.

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